CENTCOM Establishes Task Force Iron Gate to Block Iranian Land Routes
Admiral Brad Cooper ordered a new 20-person unit in Tampa to stop weapons and materials from crossing Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea.
By Ryan Carter ·
United States Central Command created a new task force on Saturday to stop the movement of advanced weapons and materials across Iranian land borders. The unit, named Task Force Iron Gate, will work alongside the existing naval blockade to restrict how Iran receives supplies.
Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of CENTCOM, directed the formation of the group. He said the move reinforces the naval blockade and limits Iran's ability to fund terrorism and rebuild its military. The task force will coordinate with other U.S. government agencies to track dual-use technologies and sanctioned materials.
The team will be based in Tampa, Florida. It consists of approximately 20 civilian and military personnel. According to the command, the group will focus on preventing the flow of illegal revenue and weapons systems across Iran's northern borders and the Caspian Sea.
CENTCOM stated that the ongoing naval blockade has already prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion in crude oil over the past few months. The blockade targets vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
On Saturday, CENTCOM reported disabling a commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel, the St. Kitts-flagged M/V Huda, allegedly ignored repeated warnings to stop. A U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions at the stern of the ship after the crew was directed to abandon targeted areas.
Since the blockade resumed in July, U.S. forces have redirected nearly 150 commercial vessels. Five ships were disabled for refusing to comply with orders. CENTCOM also said its forces destroyed 10 Iranian oil tankers that were part of a shadow network linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
